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Why are you are playing AoS? Are you a veteran player or new the scene? Are you on the fence but still interested? What is it that attracts you to AoS and what do you hope to see in the future?

I find it distressing that the top topic on the board is asking why AoS is a turn-off, so let's talk about why we like it instead!

I like the models, I like the setting, and despite its flaws the game is fun to play.

Been playing it since it began pretty much. I play because after many years of Fantasy, I got incredibly bored. Both of the game in general and the setting. I was playing more out of habit than enjoyment. When AoS came along, it actually came as a real breath of fresh air. The setting is vibrant and different (too me at least) and I enjoy the less regimented style of gameplay.

Interestingly, I still play old Fantasy, but now it's my middle ground game. And after a break of a few years, it's actually been fun again. I have AoS for epic, zappy magic style games, Fantasy for High Fantasy grimderp formation play and Lord of the Rings for Low Fantasy individual model style play.

Also, as I said in the other thread (which is again, purely anecdotal) the people I've come across who play AoS seem a lot more...into the fun side of things. Willing to try different styles of play. I've had many more objective and themed battles than I ever got with Fantasy which was 90% meat grinder games.

Never got into Fantasy and kinda regret it now. However, I am enjoying the more straight forward rules of AoS and the difference of painting clothe and flesh compared to armor in 40k.

Took me some time to get into AoS, but the new elven factions fixed that.

Going to echo Gideon's sentiment and say that the AoS group tends to be less serious about everything compared to the local 40k group. More relaxed and into having just fun.

 darkcloak wrote:

I find it distressing that the top topic on the board is asking why AoS is a turn-off, so let's talk about why we like it instead!

Technically quite a few didn't read past the title of that thread It was supposed to be more a "what stops you playing that others could help with" but a good number just ran with the thread title




As for me what's drawn me is the steady advance of fantasy from spindly serpents with oversized claws into, what I consider, better proportioned and more real and varied looking fantasy creatures and beasties. Some of the new sculpts are utterly outstanding (even if Stormcast are getting the lions share of great mounts) and I think its shift into a more high/epic magic era really resonates well with me.

In addition it seems a bit more accessible in terms of model bloat, in the past I never really got enough of an army together or enough determination to put together all the troops required for rank and file. I have no issue with that approach (and indeed liked it when I played it), I just lacked a spark of inspiration and dedication to get a full army together.

AoS then brought along new armies and I really got into the lore and idea of Daughters of Khaine. I love the mental image of witch aelves dancing on the battlefield and dodging blows that should otherwise cleave them in half before slicing their opponents open and moving on. The cold calculated flow of blood toward the Cauldrons where they sacrifice hearts and blood in the name of a fallen god of murder. Backed up with winged harpies that strike from the shadows and twisted serpents that slither over the battlefield to drive long spears into their foes whilst magic booms overhead cast by a writhing mass of snakes that is a bloodwrack and then all lead by a huge and impressive gorgon who leaps into battle.


I like the potential AoS has, its got a huge rich edge to it and I really hope GW explores it in lore and models. I'd love to see them release wild beasts from the realms - half living half mechanical ones; shadow beasts; firedragons and more. I think the high fantasy era is going to do it well as it fully embraces the explosion of magic and myth.

I like the models and the background - pretty much the same thing as WFB.

The rules are ok, not awesome but OK - getting old and I cant be bothered with the whole ranking up stuff and precise movements and not being able to charge if the arc is a single degree out.

I plan to start very soon. Have the contents of Start Collecting: Stormcast Eternals primed and ready to paint. I love the sculpts and aesthetics of many of the post End Times ranges. The 40k movement style always appealed to me far more than the rank and file style of Fantasy. Now if I can just figure out how to paint my Sigmarines in a white colour scheme...

Why *do* I play AOS today?

I have eight huge fantasy armies that I've invested in that I want to be able to keep using. That is one reason I get on the game so hard about its balance. I stopped tournaments in 2007 because I got tired of having to constantly buy new models and paint them so that I could have a good game.

I like the models and hobbying.

I am a big heavy metal fan and the world resembles a Heavy Metal magazine from the 1980s.

So I am playing AOS for narrative reasons and because I have invested so heavily into models and tables, not gameplay reasons.

I like the models and it's like playing 40k but at a sane power level.

I didn't like age of sigmar at all at launch. Like, it didn't attract me in the lightest and I quite resented it sucking release time from 40k. A friend told me to get started and it wasn't a really bad experience. Then everchosen happened and I saw dainton's drawing of archaon's varanguard in its full glory. I don't like the model that much (dorghar is boss, though) but that piece was quite the eyeopener and made me search for the good pieces made by dainton, boyd and kevin chin scattered across the books. Which is how I started to really like the setting.


These two, alongside second edition's Hammerhal art, to me embody what Age of Sigmar should look like and is. Grand clashes of titanic proportions that shake the land and whose scope affects all scales. Where the common man is dwarfed by these strange phenomena and STILL manages to pull through and forge its way on,either to damnation or glory.


Also, I am a man of simple tastes. I see big and hulking greenskins and I am more receptive.

I like the artwork, specially now that they've gotten rid of the massive overhead of gakky deviantart stuff imposed by kirby. I like most of the models. And I like the game and the way the lore's been evolving.

auticus wrote:

I am a big heavy metal fan and the world resembles a Heavy Metal magazine from the 1980s.

I did not make that connection until now - but you're right!

It's like someone at GW played Brutal Legend and then went - hey lets make Brutal-Fantasy-Legend!

Brutal Legend is definitely similar and I loved that game too lol.

Anyone who who didn't like Brutal Legend should see a doctor immediately. They me be suffering from a critical deficiency in Vitamin Rock.

On-topic, I've always preferred fantasy to sci-fi, so when I found out that the rank-and-file WHFB had been replaced with a something much closer to 40k's skirmish style, I jumped at the chance to try it out. When the GHB turned AoS into an actual organized game, I loved it despite it's flaws.

LK, wow! You're right that artwork is very good! One thing I didn't like about 8th 40k was the prevalence of digital art.

Over, whoops, didn't mean to make it sound like you'd started a complaint thread! But it did turn out that way didn't it?

Glad to see so many responses! Seems like cool models and easy rules are sort of a saving grace for most.

As for painting SCE white, good luck! White is a difficult colour to paint but in the end it's worth it. I would have a look at how to paint Deathwing from 40k. Since Eternals are mostly armour I'd think the same steps could be applied to them as well.

I too have to jump on the cool models/easy rules bandwagon. I was bitter over the Old World getting squatted (or is that bretted now? Lol!). But once I got over that and had a serious look at the game and asked some questions here, I realized there wasn't really any reason not to give it a try. I do have to say that the army books are quite nice and for my part I'm quite satisfied with my chosen army, which if you haven't he(a)rd is Beasts of Chaos.

- > A fantasy setting with your usually associated heroic tropes. Although Sigmar has been made into a poster face for the setting, it's less intrusive than in 40k where it's humanity against everyone else. I imagine the tone will be much nicer once more factions are added to the AoS and other gods also step onto the stage.

-> Out of 40k and AoS I find the AoS mechanics tamer. I watch a 40k battle report on YT from time to time but it simply doesn't send the gears into motion. I really how they've integrated the command points and heroic abilities into AoS.

- > Endless spells are fun. The pendulum could be more expensive or had a more difficult cost tied to it.

-> Although I am not completely sold on the execution, the thematic terrain pieces, and endless spells are really characterful.

-> Best support on the market, from (colorful) assembly instructions to YT painting tutorials. Assembly of GW models is generally easy and an enjoyable experience.

Hopes:

- > Light elves coming sooner rather than later, I'd also like to see summoning mechanics for this faction. I think that it would be rather thematic for the force too, even at the cost of facing the cringe-inducing expressions from my opponents.
- > Update to skirmish and AoS version of Kill Team with terrain pieces. I'd really like to see the old Mansion set back.
- > Updates and tomes for older armies. It's sort of discouraging that relatively new Kharadron Overlords and Fyreslayers could also use an update. Either in kits or rules.
- > Morathi accidentally rebirths Khaine and he's very displeased with her.

Since the two threads are fairly similar in concept... I stayed away from Fantasy, then Age of Sigmar, because I felt they would be too difficult to get in to, and I just did not have the investment in the lore, like I did with 40k. I'd been a fan of 40k, for many years before I bought my first model. Then there was an irrational knee-jerk bias. I had friends who said AoS was gak and horrible and ruined everything, and for some reason I just believe it.

What changed that? Honestly, video games. Vermintide and Total Warhammer, helped me get more in to the lore of the old world, and ease in to AoS. And it gave me that itch, when I see cool 40k models that I want to get them.

I looked at Dark Elves, then Everchosen, but eventually decided to go with my elf-loving gut, and go for Sylvaneth. I mean, they're almost elves? Love the tree aesthetic.

Got a start collecting, got the rule book, some more kits to bulk things out, and now I'm fairly excited to have my first game today

I find the classification of Sylvaneth as elves a bit odd. Love Total War, wish high elves were still a thing.

 Knight wrote:
I find the classification of Sylvaneth as elves a bit odd. Love Total War, wish high elves were still a thing.

To me, pointy ears is elf enough for me. Unless green skin is involved... The trees, and the spirits coming out of the trees have elven ears!

I like the brief rules and fast-paced action of small games. It's the perfect intro or casual game although it scalates horribly with game size. Great for scenario play and the crazy terrain rules and scenario cards make every game different even with the same armies.

Nice thread. I was going to make on of these for the same reason as well.

I always wanted to get into Fantasay but it wasn't really economically able to get into. The buy to get into was too much because from what I gathered players wanted high point games. So it costed too much, to much time invested, blood sweat and tears was just not worth it to me because the imbalance made the game look to be not fun from my experience from 40K at the time.

So when Age of Sigmar started I thought it was a perfect time to get into. Sadly I didn't like the Sigmarines and was turned off. About 6 months or a year later with the GW changes I gave AoS a chance again and tried it.

Sadly live events took me away for a bit. Now I am back but sadly my depression is keeping me from playing it. So I am just collecting now. Really like the minis. So I am more of a modeler now. Hoping to start playing again once I have some minis painted.

I've always been a big fan of big fantasy, and while I first got into table top with 40k and do have a large collection of space marines, I wanted a reason to jump into fantasy. The GW manager is probably one of the most chillest guys around and runs a great store, always inviting, knows how to paint as he's won awards and junk. Makes me glad to be in the store.

Also our sigmar scene seems to have dwindled and I really do think it's a great game, so I want to play it more and discuss it alot. What stops me most of the time from playing is lack of players at the time I arrive, and I only have saturday free.

I'm still salty about Fantasy Battles.

Peer pressure.

GW kits are fun. PP not so much.

Forging the narrative.

why I want to play: I like being able to "bring what I want" and make my own forces and build armies I like the look of

Why I don't get to play: The game is less popular than herpes in my area.

Because the rules are simple and intuitive whilst still allowing for clever tactics and strategies.

Because the setting and (most) of the factions are cool.

Because the models are amazing. Argueably the best GW make.

The models are great and the game seems really fun. I plan on expanding a SCE army soon.

GW makes the best models, and AoS is a much more fun and sane game then 40k, so I gravitated to it.

Been playing since the start of the year with Seraphon. I was always interested in Lizardmen but the Fantasy scene in my area was utterly dead. After the General's handbook came out my local AoS scene exploded and now it's rivalling 40K for popularity. I started checking it out too and got hooked.

For me, the initial attraction was the background. I've read Warhammer Fantasy novels, and I've played Orks since 2007, so I'm familiar with the GW universes. However, no matter how much I enjoyed Fantasy, I just couldn't get into it. There was so little scope for "your dudes", given how rigid everything was. 40K got around that by having a whole galaxy to play with, so you could invent your own planet and have it fit in perfectly.

AoS gave me creative freedom with my army's background and I loved it. Writing the fluff has been almost as much fun as painting and playing. But engaging with the evolving fluff is just as enjoyable. I love feeling like part of an evolving, changing world, where our decisions make an actual difference to the story. Playing the 8th edition campaign for 40K just felt boring by comparison; we know nothing's going to change, and indeed it hasn't. Whole galaxy gets cut in half, net result: ziltch. Status-quo remains. AoS by contrast is changing every time a new Battletome comes out.

The other big reason is fun. 40K hasn't felt fun for some time, and 8th didn't change that for me. Maybe it's because I play Orks, but I have plenty of friends who say the same thing. By contrast, AoS just keeps getting more fun. I cannot fathom how the same rules team produces both products whilst consistently hitting home runs with AoS whilst mucking up 40K. Command Point farming has been a major issue with 40K, as has soup, since the start of 8th, and in both cases their solutions have not done anything to stop it. Meanwhile in AoS, they solve the issues by restricting Command Points and putting in restrictions on soup. They even fixed the Formations that so broke 40K that they weren't even ported over for 8th by just giving them points values. It's simple, effective, and it works.

8th ed seems very unfun to me too. AoS is one of the games played at my store, that doesn't require metal models, having drills etc.

Right now I am looking through the armies, to find one that would be cheap, and something like GK or rather custodes. 15-20 models and ok to play. Doesn't have to be the best army in the world, but as long as it is not the GK of AoS, it would be ok. Well if I get money to buy the models at least.

Used to play beastmen back in WFB, but could not fathom starting another army with hundreds of lined infantry on square bases. Always hated square bases myself, and hated ranking up troops and this kept me out of fantasy for years.

Since AoS launched I've been waiting for the right army to come out so I can jump in. So far I've held out but Moonlan Grotz will be my buy in.

Things I love about AoS:

* Setting: A much more fleshed out and interesting take on a fantasy universe than the old world. Love the fact gods and immortal heroes are real, and that the story continue to evolve.

* Factions/Models: The new fantasy factions have new and unique artistic and stylistic elements that make them very unique and coherent. The models are amazing and so detailed, I would not have believed they were plastic if I saw them a decade ago. I like that they take a theme and run with it; who needs Tolkien tree elves hen you have have half-elf had dryad spirits?

* Possibilities: Unlike 40K where most new models are rehashes of old lore/releases, the AoS universe constantly has a creative edge and is open. This is why they can suddenly drop unheard of sea-creature-riding sea elves and steampunk dwarves on us. I can't wait to see what they do with green skins, and regular humans.

* 4 major factions. Unlike 40K where everything falls under "Imperium", "Chaos" or "Xenos", here we have a proper 4th (undead) faction. This makes things much more interesting, and gives opportunities for great story telling.

* Magic: Love hw endless spells added a physical and strategic element to spell casting. Love that each major faction will get unique ones. This sets AoS apart more than anything else for me, and makes me feel like I'm playing a proper high fantasy game.

So there you have it. I think enough time has passed and enough new factions/models have been released that AoS is well fleshed out now. It feels new and exciting, and I can't wait to see it's future shape up.

 Hive City Dweller wrote:
Used to play beastmen back in WFB, but could not fathom starting another army with hundreds of lined infantry on square bases. Always hated square bases myself, and hated ranking up troops and this kept me out of fantasy for years.

Interestingly enough, the gang-fighting style of AoS fits the lore of the Beastmen fighting style more than the rank and file of WHFB. I loved the old Beasts of Chaos rule for the Gor/Ungor squads that they moved like Skirmishers, but fought like rank and file. The Gors would even use the Ungors as meatshields on the way in to protect them from fire. That book had a lot of fun concepts which seems to be coming back, though I doubt we'll see that formation again.